ETHICAL ISSUES om.docx - Running head ETHICAL PRINCIPLES 1...

Running head: ETHICAL PRINCIPLES 1
Ethical Principles in Counseling
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ETHICAL PRINCIPLES 2
Ethical Principles in Counseling
Introduction
There are various ethical codes of conduct that must be adhered to by counseling
psychologists in the course of offering services to clients. These ethical principles ensure that
professionalism is maintained and that clients are safe. The purpose of this paper is to discuss
codes of ethics and principles and their application while offering counseling services.
Section 1: Boundary Issues and Dual Relationships
Boundaries in relationships can be defined as guidelines or rules that determine the
acceptable code of conduct that is expected to ensure a safe and appropriate behavior between
two parties in the relationship. As discussed by Vantage Point Recovery (2019), a therapeutic
relationship is a close interaction between the psychologist and the client where support and care
are given to the client to facilitate recovery through an empathetic and non-judgmental
environment.
The relationship must evolve from the orientation stage where the counselor and the
patient get to know each other and move to the identification phase where the issues to be dealt
with are guided by ethical principles and codes of professional conduct to provide therapy. The
working phase is where the client and the therapist get comfortable as they focus on attainment
of the identified goals within boundaries given by ethical principles (Vantage Point Recovery,
2019). The first area to adhere to boundaries is where the client should provide informed consent
with regard to the treatment provided by the counselor. The therapist must provide all relevant
facts and details with regard to the therapy to be provided. The second area is to avoid sexual
relations with clients. According to the American Psychological Association (2019), the APA
code 10.05 states that psychologists should not engage in sexual intimacies with their clients or

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES 3
relatives and should set professional boundaries. The third area is highlighted by APA ethical
code of conduct 10.08 which prohibits engagement in sexual intimacies with former clients for at
least two years after the therapy termination and a therapist must prove that there was no
coercion or manipulation of the client (Doherty & Purtilo, 2015). There is a need to establish
boundaries to avoid getting into an intimate relationship with former clients or significant
individuals in their lives. The fourth area is when psychologists act as supervisors or mentors and
are required to offer services within the boundaries of their competence as demonstrated by their
professional knowledge and training. The American Psychological Association (2019) provides
that a therapist can only offer services, conduct research or train others within the boundaries of
their professional qualifications. These boundaries are important in service provision to clients.